Super Empire Strikes Back Review

The possibility of successfully navigating this game is approximately 3,720 to 1.

The review of this product is based on a re-released version of the game. Because of this change of medium and the passage of time, it is possible that there are slight factual differences between the original retail product and the version reviewed. The following review should be used as a reference for how well the game stood up over time rather than an evaluation of how it would have scored based on its original release date.

I never got off Hoth.

It was the '90s, I was a Star Wars fan and I had a Super Nintendo. I'd held off on purchasing a copy of Super Star Wars for myself, only renting it occasionally, because I knew the money was better saved for the sequel -- Super Empire Strikes Back. Based on the second film in the classic trilogy (and my personal favorite of the three), I knew that if I could only have one SNES adventure in that galaxy far, far away then it'd be the one where Luke learns the ways of the force on Dagobah and fights Darth Vader in the bowels of Cloud City.

Except I never got off Hoth.

What I failed to plan for in my miserly money-hoarding plan for purchasing Super Empire was that, after I purchased it, it might not be worth the cash. And I certainly didn't get my money's worth, because after countless attempts and endless frustration, I still couldn't manage enough skill at the game to get past the first few levels. Luke Skywalker, in my version of the universe, was forever stranded in the snow.

So I'm suggesting a course of caution here, right up front. Super Empire Strikes Back might be making a strong appeal to your Wii Point wallet now that it's arrived on the Virtual Console, but don't rush into a purchase before weighing it out a bit -- because the game's extreme level of aggravating difficulty may well leave you, too, out in the cold.

Get your Tauntaun on.

Super Empire Strikes Back is once again a side-scrolling, platforming, adventure experience that offers a set of high-energy action levels loosely themed on the environments and events of the second Star Wars film. It follows along with the basic storyline of the movie, but exaggerates plot elements every step of the way for the purpose of adding in more action -- so Luke doesn't just fight a single Wampa beast, but an entire army of ice-dwelling creatures followed by a huge, screen-filling Wampa with freezing breath and massive arms the size of an X-Wing.

Chewbacca doesn't just chase after Boba Fett to try to rescue Han, but actually catches and battles him face-to-face -- and then attacks his Slave-1 ship as well.

And Yoda isn't the only creature encountered on Dagobah anymore -- enormous bog monsters and huge hordes of other swamp things seek to distract you from your Jedi training throughout your entire trip to the marsh-covered world.

The gameplay is firmly rooted in the foundation established by the first Super Star Wars game, with some expected enhancements and revisions -- the control feels a little tighter, and there are more options at your disposal. Han and Chewie's abilities get a slight bump, but Luke's the one with the most major overhaul -- he's equipped with his lightsaber from the very beginning this time, along with still having a blaster too.

He can also learn and execute a variety of Force powers now, from the health-refilling Heal to the save-you-from-bottomless-pits Flight. They're an interesting addition to the design and keep things mostly in line with Luke's growth as a Jedi in the Empire timeline, except that the movies never had him turning Invisible to be able to run through waves of enemies unscathed.

If that all sounds enticing, then by all means get out your credit card and start surfing to the Shop Channel -- controlling the three lead heroes of The Empire Strikes Back through Contra-like run-and-gun stages, as well as occasionally getting to pilot some vehicles like a Snowspeeder and the Millennium Falcon in supporting levels is a solid mix, and Super Empire is a solid game.

The Verdict

But just remember my word of warning -- Super Empire Strikes Back is an incredibly difficult experience. Even given the new Force powers and other enhanced abilities for the hero characters, Super Empire's levels are relentless. The screen is constantly awash with tons of foes, pit traps will claim your lives regularly after even slightly misplaced jumps, and bosses often have so many hit points and absorb so much damage that you can hardly ever hope to survive long enough to take them down before losing the battle of attrition with your own health meter.

There are three different difficulty settings -- "Easy," "Brave," and "Jedi" -- but even the lowest level of challenge is still higher than other games' toughest tracks in this same genre. You could spend the eight dollars to download this one and then, very possibly, not make it past the first few stages. You might never get off Hoth. Like me. In the '90s.

So I'd recommend first getting Super Star Wars, trying it out, and seeing if you can handle its intensity. Then, if you feel like you've mastered its ways, consider progressing further up the difficulty curve with this sequel. All just things to keep in mind. And if you do decide to buy, well, good luck -- and may the Force be with you.